Watermelon Arugula Salad

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Watermelon season is fast approaching. Once the weather gets warmer we crave watermelon in our house and it becomes a summer staple. I love using it in salads and appetizers. Today’s Watermelon Arugula Salad is the perfect light, fruity salad to pair with your grilling.

Watermelon is a really versatile fruit as well as enjoying it as it is, it also works really well in both sweet and savory dishes, where it not only adds great flavor, but texture and crunch too.

Try watermelon in some of my favorite recipes, my Easy Watermelon Salsa, Cucumber Salsa or my Berry Melon Bruschetta.

This salad is such a versatile salad and a lot of fun ingredients can be added in like nuts and seeds, extra vegetables or even pickled vegetables.

There is something so satisfying about all of those fresh summer salads.

Some others that I like to make are this Summer Orzo Pasta Salad, Mediterranean Eggplant Salad, Easy Lebanese Salad and this Mediterranean Farro Salad.

Why you Will Love this Watermelon Salad

• Flavorful: This salad has the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Sweet and crunchy watermelon, spicy arugula and crumbly, salty feta, dressed in a fresh and herby vinaigrette.
• Easy to Prepare: This salad can be prepared and ready to enjoy in just 15 minutes, making it the ideal side dish to serve any night of the week.
• Versatile: You can add any other flavors into this salad that you are your family enjoy, for example add some fresh herbs like parsley, mint or chive.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients we’re using. Jump to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and printable instructions. 

• Greens: I like to add arugula to this salad as it has a wonderful spicy flavor which works really well with the sweet watermelon.
• Watermelon: this delicious fruit not only tastes great but also adds crunch and texture to the salad. I use seedless watermelon if it is available.
• Onion: I’ve used a red onion in the salad, shallot or green onions would be great alternatives as they also have a milder flavor.
• Cheese: I like to crumble feta cheese over the salad, which adds a great flavor and a touch of salt to the salad.
• Seasoning: I keep the seasoning simple with a little Salt and black pepper to taste.
• Dressing: The dressing is light and adds a lot of flavor. It mixes a good extra virgin olive oil with white vinegar, fresh herbs and garlic.

Recipe Modifications

• Greens: If you’re not a fan of arugula, you can substitute it with other leafy greens like baby spinach or mixed salad greens. Or leave it off altogether, the combination of watermelon, feta cheese, and the vinaigrette will still create a delicious salad.
• Fruits and Veggies: Add other fruits and vegetables to the salad that you enjoy eating. Try tomatoes, english cucumber, grapes, green onion, radish or beetroot. For fruits I like adding mango, pineapple, strawberries or blueberries. I also love adding these pickled onions or pickled vegetables.
• Nuts and Seeds: Nuts and seeds are a nice addition to an arugula salad. I like pine nuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and sunflower seeds.
• Vinegar: In the salad dressing, swap white vinegar, for white wine, red wine, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar or sherry vinegar. A drizzle of balsamic glaze is also a nice addition to this salad.
• Herbs: I love to add fresh herbs to the salad as well as the salad dressing, try parsley, chives, cilantro, fresh basil, tarragon, oregano, dill, or fresh mint leaves.

How to Make a Watermelon Salad

Step 1: Prepare Salad: In a large bowl, combine the arugula, watermelon cubes, red onion slices, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss gently to mix.

Step 2: Make the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white vinegar, minced garlic, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper until well combined.

Step 3: Dress Salad: Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat the ingredients evenly. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Serve the watermelon feta cheese salad immediately and enjoy!